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Of course, Buffalo is bigger than Rochester at the city, urban area, and MSA level.
But, is the gap big enough to matter? Or is it like Bos/Philly, PGH/Cle, Dal/Hou. One city is technically bigger than the other but they are basically in the same tier with comparable level of amenities?
Something to possibly consider is that Buffalo is a small 1 million people plus metro area in land size in general and even in comparison to Rochester, which is actually also pretty small in land area for a metro with over 1 million people.
Like I've mentioned in other C-D forums, there are metros with not that much more people than either metro, but are bigger than or similar to both combined in land area.
Buffalo is a small big city and Rochester is a big small city. Overall very similar and are definitely peers, but the best way to illustrate this is the urban area population. Buffalo is a solid tier above Rochester in this regard. And although the gap has been narrowing for decades, Rochester is still peg below Buffalo. Buffalo still has amenities that Rochester does not (much larger airport, professional sports teams)
I was in Buffalo this morning. It is a little more condensed than the Rochester metro, that gained Yates county a couple years back. Interesting, though, Erie county is about 40% larger in land size than Monroe.
Another thing to consider, is Professional sports is really the only thing Buffalo has that Rochester doesn't, it's questionable whether they would have them without Roc's help. For balance, Roc has more professional golf.
Something I find very noticeable is Buffalo seems much grittier. Doesn't seem to be much planning and zoning. Just my observation.
I was in Buffalo this morning. It is a little more condensed than the Rochester metro, that gained Yates county a couple years back. Interesting, though, Erie county is about 40% larger in land size than Monroe.
Another thing to consider, is Professional sports is really the only thing Buffalo has that Rochester doesn't, it's questionable whether they would have them without Roc's help. For balance, Roc has more professional golf.
Something I find very noticeable is Buffalo seems much grittier. Doesn't seem to be much planning and zoning. Just my observation.
All of these have a median household income above the state figure as well. Hilton, Eden, Livonia, Lewiston-Porter, Lancaster and Wilson (21-26)also are above the state figure.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 10-19-2020 at 04:40 PM..
I've noticed that the homes in Buffalo's burb's are on much smaller lots. The commercial stuff seems to be all over, where Rochester's is more concentrated in certain area's. Most of Rochester's expressway's are like driving through a forest, where Buffalo's are open.
I know there are nicer areas north of the thruway, but I was in the Depew, Lancaster, Cheektowaga, Transit Rd. areas. I would look in a different suburb
I was in Buffalo this morning. It is a little more condensed than the Rochester metro, that gained Yates county a couple years back. Interesting, though, Erie county is about 40% larger in land size than Monroe.
Another thing to consider, is Professional sports is really the only thing Buffalo has that Rochester doesn't, it's questionable whether they would have them without Roc's help. For balance, Roc has more professional golf.
Something I find very noticeable is Buffalo seems much grittier. Doesn't seem to be much planning and zoning. Just my observation.
Yeah, the pro sports is probably the biggest mental difference between the two cities. It gives Buffalo more of a "big city" national profile. To a lesser extent, the light rail line, the Albright-Knox Galley and the theater district arguably also add a little to the city's profile.
When you compare the actual cities themselves, Buffalo seems a little more denser with more apartment buildings and tighter packed 2-3 unit houses. The downtown also seems a little further along in revitalization. But, I guess I would say they seem more similar than different. Rochester's East End/A Street, NOTA, Park Ave, Monroe Ave, South Wedge matches up reasonably well against Buffalo's core.
I like the Penfield, Victor and Pittsford areas. Rochester is more upscale than Buffalo since it has a Fidelity office in Pittsford. The Eastview Mall in Victor very upscale and we used to go there to shop for Stickley furniture. Buffalo's peak was in the early 1900s whereas Rochester had, until recently, Kodak and Xerox as main employers.
Yeah, the pro sports is probably the biggest mental difference between the two cities. It gives Buffalo more of a "big city" national profile. To a lesser extent, the light rail line, the Albright-Knox Galley and the theater district arguably also add a little to the city's profile.
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Ironically, Roc had a rail system and is the only city in the country to shut down a subway. It wasn't light rail, either. The old canal bed that became a subway, became an expressway. I guess they thought they were doing something right by welcoming the automobile. Forward thinking, maybe?
I'm not really familiar with Albright-Knox. Is it really on a higher level than our Memorial Art Gallery?
We tried to form a theatre District near the Eastman Theatre, but bickering delayed things. Geva Theatre got sick of waiting and moved to where it is now.
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